When social media first came to my attention years ago, I made a decision that I would avoid political and controversial posts if at all possible. Of course, I wasn’t always successful early on, garnering my fair share of harsh responses and a few posts that I deleted after I went back and re-read some of my words which made me look like “one of those guys.” Life has been a lot easier using social media for nothing more than posting cute pictures and keeping up with what all of my virtual friends around the world are doing.
Of course, it becomes harder and harder to peruse many of these sites because, more often than not, they are filled with nothing more than caustic opinions about politics and social issues. Yes, American politics is a hot mess and the media is nothing more than a feeding frenzy waiting to unearth the next savory morsel of ill repute that will hopefully doom another candidate or celebrity or turn an issue into a one-sided free for all. The funny thing about all of this is that I’ve yet to see a social media post that successfully sways the masses into agreeing with their point of view. If anything, all they do is cause further division and rupture budding virtual friendships. So not worth it.
The point is: We can do better. It’s not that I don’t care about your views. I truly do care and would be more than happy to discuss them over coffee and doughnut. I realize that you have every right in the world to post whatever you wish on social media and I will defend that right - while at the same time “unfollowing you” because I just can’t handle all of the negativity and one-sided vitriol that consumes my news feed.
Instead, let’s post more pictures of cute puppies and even cuter kids, Bible verses that inspire us to seek after Who really matters, cool videos of amazing guitar solos or soldiers being reunited with their families, requests for good restaurants and better recipes, and of course life events such as births and marriages that need to be celebrated.
Do we truly need social media? I don’t know, and I certainly don’t use it like I used to. But in light of the fact that we no longer send letters or make phone calls like we did back in the “good old days,” it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea as long as it is not abused. Still want to shout about your opinions and political views? Then run for office and be the change you so desperately want to see.
I guarantee that people would be able to accomplish so much more in this world if they stepped away from their keyboards and put their energy into actually trying to solve these problems that make them so angry in the first place. And, I bet that they would be so busy seeking to accomplish these changes that they wouldn’t have enough time to post about it. That would be awesome because it would free my feed up so that I could see more of those cute kitten videos.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
I'll take one order of higher ground to go, please
Higher ground. It's where people go when rising waters threaten to devastate their homes and everything else that they cherish. Going to higher ground during a major hurricane or flood is a no-brainer. If you stay where you are, then there is really only one option - you will get soaked at best and washed away at worst. Who wants to drown in swirling waters when there is a safe refuge nearby?
America just finished a contentious election. I know, I'm Master of the Obvious, right? Social media has allowed America's citizens to voice their glee and dismay, optimism and devastation at the click of a few buttons. Depending upon whom your digital "friends" are, you have probably seen a whole host of not-so-friendly posts from those who believe a new age of awesomeness has been ushered in - or is it a new age of going to hell in a hand basket?
Every single time I read someone's impassioned thoughts on social media, I realize that there will be many vultures coming out of the woodwork to pick at the meat of those thoughts. This is not always a bad thing. I love the fact that we have dissenting voices in America because I truly believe that diversity is a beautiful thing.
But let's be honest. What you and I have seen and heard the past few days has been anything but beautiful, much less helpful. I get it - people are angry and upset or elated and overjoyed. Yet time and time again I've seen my friends and acquaintances wade back into the danger zone of a flood of emotions and vitriol that has no exit door.
It's time to take the higher ground.
I am not one to tip my hat to my political leanings because, well, they are kind of complicated. I am a registered Independent and I do my best to vote issues, not people. But man, it has been so difficult these past couple of days to refrain from responding to bigoted, arrogant, selfish, and near-sighted posts from many of my friends on social media! Yet I have avoided doing just that.
Why? Besides the obvious that I've yet to ever see a social media post about politics ever make the world a better place, I choose to take the higher ground. And that's not because I'm some sort of exceptional person or anything. It's just that I realized that if I got me feet even just a little bit wet in the flood of negativity, vitriol, and hate, then the rest of me would be swimming before long.
Look, if you're mad, then I get it. And if you are celebrating, I get it too. Yet I also realize that our country is divided into many different segments of people who have radically different world views of which they are zealously passionate. And while there are a few people out there that actually want to discuss issues, most want to assassinate another person's character, whether that person is the winner, the loser, or sitting in front of a keyboard. Thanks, but no thanks.
My friends, please take the higher ground. Before you dip your toe into that cesspool of incivility and hatred, head for the hills. Log off of social media. Refrain from pushing the "hate" and "ignorance" buttons on your keyboard. Some of the best agents of change were those who anticipated disaster and took a different route to avoid it altogether. Never heard of them? That's the whole point. If you are someone who has already voiced toxic opinions, then you can't take back what you have said (or typed) but you can step toward the higher ground.
Can I leave you with the most amazing example of what this looks like? 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus took everything that His haters could throw at Him and the only defense He took was with the truth that He proclaimed. As a result, He received a death sentence. Even then He chose to respond not with hate but instead took the higher ground on a cross perched on hill outside of town. He did this for you and He did this for me so that we could be saved from our sin and ourselves and thus take the higher ground in the future - that perch from which we could also treat our friends and neighbors and fellow country men with the same love and respect that He afforded to us.
Get out of the water and take to higher ground. It's not too late.
America just finished a contentious election. I know, I'm Master of the Obvious, right? Social media has allowed America's citizens to voice their glee and dismay, optimism and devastation at the click of a few buttons. Depending upon whom your digital "friends" are, you have probably seen a whole host of not-so-friendly posts from those who believe a new age of awesomeness has been ushered in - or is it a new age of going to hell in a hand basket?
Every single time I read someone's impassioned thoughts on social media, I realize that there will be many vultures coming out of the woodwork to pick at the meat of those thoughts. This is not always a bad thing. I love the fact that we have dissenting voices in America because I truly believe that diversity is a beautiful thing.
But let's be honest. What you and I have seen and heard the past few days has been anything but beautiful, much less helpful. I get it - people are angry and upset or elated and overjoyed. Yet time and time again I've seen my friends and acquaintances wade back into the danger zone of a flood of emotions and vitriol that has no exit door.
It's time to take the higher ground.
I am not one to tip my hat to my political leanings because, well, they are kind of complicated. I am a registered Independent and I do my best to vote issues, not people. But man, it has been so difficult these past couple of days to refrain from responding to bigoted, arrogant, selfish, and near-sighted posts from many of my friends on social media! Yet I have avoided doing just that.
Why? Besides the obvious that I've yet to ever see a social media post about politics ever make the world a better place, I choose to take the higher ground. And that's not because I'm some sort of exceptional person or anything. It's just that I realized that if I got me feet even just a little bit wet in the flood of negativity, vitriol, and hate, then the rest of me would be swimming before long.
Look, if you're mad, then I get it. And if you are celebrating, I get it too. Yet I also realize that our country is divided into many different segments of people who have radically different world views of which they are zealously passionate. And while there are a few people out there that actually want to discuss issues, most want to assassinate another person's character, whether that person is the winner, the loser, or sitting in front of a keyboard. Thanks, but no thanks.
My friends, please take the higher ground. Before you dip your toe into that cesspool of incivility and hatred, head for the hills. Log off of social media. Refrain from pushing the "hate" and "ignorance" buttons on your keyboard. Some of the best agents of change were those who anticipated disaster and took a different route to avoid it altogether. Never heard of them? That's the whole point. If you are someone who has already voiced toxic opinions, then you can't take back what you have said (or typed) but you can step toward the higher ground.
Can I leave you with the most amazing example of what this looks like? 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus took everything that His haters could throw at Him and the only defense He took was with the truth that He proclaimed. As a result, He received a death sentence. Even then He chose to respond not with hate but instead took the higher ground on a cross perched on hill outside of town. He did this for you and He did this for me so that we could be saved from our sin and ourselves and thus take the higher ground in the future - that perch from which we could also treat our friends and neighbors and fellow country men with the same love and respect that He afforded to us.
Get out of the water and take to higher ground. It's not too late.
A not-so-political guide to the November election
This election season is turning out to be a doozy, isn't it? I make it a habit to not write or post about politics in a way that is confrontational or leaning towards the endorsement of a particular candidate, and this will be no different. Most people that I know and speak with are frustrated, and with good reason. Not once in my 46 years here on earth have I seen such an electorate so divided yet also so hesitant to cast a vote.
Many of my pastor buddies have turned to social media to express their views and distribute their advice and wisdom to those who would receive it. Honestly, I have more often been disappointed by what I have read than encouraged. It's very apparent that my evangelical friends are taking stances against both presidential candidates, and in doing so they are inviting some pretty ridiculous feedback from their parishioners who feel the need to comment while offering no real direction for them to take. When that happens, things just get down right silly.
A common belief that I see being proposed is that voting for a third-party candidate essentially means casting a vote against a better qualified candidate that actually has a chance to win. While I cannot debate the truth or error in this statement, I do want to point out how one person commented on that belief: "Just because you refuse to eat at McDonald's doesn't mean that Burger King gets your money." Clever, huh? The problem with this analogy is that there are hundreds of fast-food options out there, not just two or three. I may choose to eat at home, but someone is going to get my money, whether it is a grocery store or some other establishment. Besides, who we elect for President of the United States (POTUS) carries a lot more weight than where I choose to eat a greasy burger.
So where do I stand? Who will I vote for? I'm not going to tell you. But I do want to spend the rest of this post pointing you down a path that I hope that you will take however you choose to cast your ballot in November. Regardless of who is the next President of the United States there will be certain areas in your life that will always be true and cannot be taken away.
I want what's best for America and so do you. For me, that means more Jesus, but we all know that on this next ballot the only names that appear will be those of mere mortals like you and me. That being the case, if you are a follower of Jesus then live like one. The government cannot pass legislation that can keep you from loving people, caring for the needy, honoring others, respecting peoples' rights, or standing up for what is just. Go out and vote and then do what you know that you must do to point others in the direction of our great God and His salvation which is only found in Jesus.
Many of my pastor buddies have turned to social media to express their views and distribute their advice and wisdom to those who would receive it. Honestly, I have more often been disappointed by what I have read than encouraged. It's very apparent that my evangelical friends are taking stances against both presidential candidates, and in doing so they are inviting some pretty ridiculous feedback from their parishioners who feel the need to comment while offering no real direction for them to take. When that happens, things just get down right silly.
A common belief that I see being proposed is that voting for a third-party candidate essentially means casting a vote against a better qualified candidate that actually has a chance to win. While I cannot debate the truth or error in this statement, I do want to point out how one person commented on that belief: "Just because you refuse to eat at McDonald's doesn't mean that Burger King gets your money." Clever, huh? The problem with this analogy is that there are hundreds of fast-food options out there, not just two or three. I may choose to eat at home, but someone is going to get my money, whether it is a grocery store or some other establishment. Besides, who we elect for President of the United States (POTUS) carries a lot more weight than where I choose to eat a greasy burger.
So where do I stand? Who will I vote for? I'm not going to tell you. But I do want to spend the rest of this post pointing you down a path that I hope that you will take however you choose to cast your ballot in November. Regardless of who is the next President of the United States there will be certain areas in your life that will always be true and cannot be taken away.
- If you are concerned about your rights to free speech being taken away, then you can still respect the rights of others in your life to speak freely, even if they disagree with you.
- If you are worried that the POTUS will disregard even more the life of the unborn, that doesn't stop you from continuing to be an advocate for those who have no voice, does it?
- Think that the next POTUS will take away your guns and your right to protect yourself? Even if that does happen, that alone shouldn't keep you from loving your neighbor and looking out for each other.
- Concerned that the new POTUS will shut all the borders, prohibit immigration, and racism will now officially be institutional and rampant? Pretty sure the court systems won't allow that, but even if they did, isn't it on YOU how you view and treat your fellow man? Will YOU still choose to respect all people regardless of color, gender, and orientation in spite of what laws could possibly be passed?
- Can't believe that someone so immoral could actually hold the highest office in the land? This is nothing new. Don't look to the POTUS as your moral compass or to be a role model for your children. That is your job.
I want what's best for America and so do you. For me, that means more Jesus, but we all know that on this next ballot the only names that appear will be those of mere mortals like you and me. That being the case, if you are a follower of Jesus then live like one. The government cannot pass legislation that can keep you from loving people, caring for the needy, honoring others, respecting peoples' rights, or standing up for what is just. Go out and vote and then do what you know that you must do to point others in the direction of our great God and His salvation which is only found in Jesus.
A non-PC response to an issue that desperately wants to divide us
Orlando, FL, in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016. 50 men and women dead in a club, all shot by the same gunman, and many more wounded.
That information alone is enough to crush one's spirit. It did mine. Who goes out and senselessly guns down men and women like that in cold blood? When I heard the news and the massive amount of lives lost, it hit me to the core and I grieved and continue to grieve for those affected by this senseless act of violence.
Oh how I wish that we could all see it that way, as a senseless act of violence committed by a man whose intention was nothing short of evil. Yet we are not allowed to see it that way, not in our politically correct world. By the way, whose idea was it to put the words "political" and "correct" together in the first place? Talk about an oxymoron!
The victims were at a gay bar. They were all gay, thus it's a hate crime against the gay community.
The shooter was a radical Islamist. He claimed allegiance to Isis, thus it's about Muslim terrorism.
Guns are the problem. We need gun control!
On and on the rhetoric has flowed. Is any of that true? Maybe some of it is or perhaps all of it is, but when we succumb to the labels and the venom and the finger pointing that the media and our politicians vomit on us, we find ourselves going down paths that take away from the reality of not only this tragedy, but any tragedy that we see or experience in our world. Real people lay dead, all sons and daughters who will never return home.
So in the midst of all of that, I want to encourage you to turn off Fox News and CNN and MSNBC and I want you to close the Drudge Report page on your web browser.
You see, what really is the core issue in all of this is not the sexual preference of the victims nor the religious ideology of the shooter or even the types of weapon made available on the free market. The root cause goes much deeper, all the way to the heart and the soul. The reason this tragedy and tragedies like this happen are because we live in a lost and broken world that has been indelibly marred by sin. And sin, when it takes root, bares it's ugly head in unimaginable forms.
Will seeing this from a theological perspective change what happened? Will calling it sin stop the next nut job with a gun from mowing down people in public places? I am not saying that we cannot respond in a way that offers prevention and helps those who have been affected right now by such senseless acts. Decisions must be made by those whom we have entrusted to make those decisions.
But for the rest of us who have the luxury of playing armchair talk show host while we busily click away at our computer keyboards on social media sites, our task must be different. We must begin by seeing the flaws in humanity as they are, not as we want to make them out to be.
The problem is sin. The solution is Jesus.
Jesus died for the sins of the world, not just the sins of those who are straight but also the sins of those who are gay. Not just for those who would one day place their faith in Him, but also for those whom He knew would reject Him. We are ALL sinners. I am, you are. And because of sin we are marred by it and we act in ways that sometimes only affect our own lives but more often affect the lives of others. If sin wasn't a problem, then Jesus would not have died. We all have sin and all of us need the forgiveness and redemption that only Jesus can offer.
Because of that, I am broken in my spirit over the affects of sin in our world. Whether it is a drunk driving accident that causes fatalities, physical abuse of a child, millions of abortions around the world that prevent unborn babies from living the lives for which they were created, or even the ravaging affects of cancer as it destroys the human body, sin always leaves its mark.
And this is the perspective I am asking you to take in all of this: To grieve for the lives that were lost to the sinful acts of this man and to offer up prayers of peace and comfort to 50 families who will no longer hear the voices of their loved ones or see them over the next holiday. Call upon the name of the Lord and pray for a mighty rush of revival in our land. Do not fall into the trap of reserving your empathy for only those who look like your or believe like you. Jesus did not distinguish in such a way and neither should we.
Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.
And the next President of the United States will be...
When it comes to politics, I typically keep my opinions close to the vest, and that is not really going to change now. As a registered Independent, I love the feeling of not being key holed into one particular party or ideology. I'm a maverick, a renegade who arrives at the voting booth on a Harley wearing a leather vest while the crowds part as I swagger my way to the voting booth. Or at least I like to see myself that way. In reality, I am just like everyone else when it comes to politics. I have to make an informed decision and so do you. This is where it starts to get tricky.
This election cycle is unlike any I have witnessed in my 46 years on earth, at least from the years that I can remember. I purposefully don't get too involved in political discussions because I value healthy relationships and a stable blood pressure. Besides, I've never engaged in a political debate where either side has emerged saying, "You're exactly right! Silly me, I see it your way and now I've changed my mind!"
Yet what lies before us on the presidential political horizon is truly historic. The candidates that are set before us are almost cartoonish - not that they are unqualified on some levels, but it's as if someone reached into a grab bag and pulled out the first two items they could get their hands on and said, "Choose one!" I almost expect to find a hidden camera somewhere gauging America's reactions and at any minute a TV host will pop out from around the corner and yell, "Smile, you're on Candid Camera!" Yet all of this is very real and, as Americans, we have some really important decisions to make in the coming months.
So what are we supposed to do? Some of you reading this might be thinking, "What's the problem? My guy/girl is gonna get the nomination and I'm pumped!" If that's you, then this post probably won't mean that much to you. Others of you are already declaring gloom and doom and are preparing your bunker somewhere in the desert where you are convinced you will survive as the world implodes around you. If that is you, then I also suggest that what I am writing may not be of much help. But if you are like most of the people that I know, the future of our country concerns you and you have felt this way long before this election season began to dawn on the horizon.
November is coming, whether you like it or not. I will not tell you how you should vote, but I do want to share a few facts that I hope will be helpful to you in the decision process:
Yes, I want there to be political and economic stability in this land. But more than that, I long to see men and women place their faith in Jesus and receive the incredible gift of forgiveness, salvation, and hope that only He can bring. And I'm pretty sure that there is no president nor ballot issue that can limit that from happening.
So what are we supposed to do? Some of you reading this might be thinking, "What's the problem? My guy/girl is gonna get the nomination and I'm pumped!" If that's you, then this post probably won't mean that much to you. Others of you are already declaring gloom and doom and are preparing your bunker somewhere in the desert where you are convinced you will survive as the world implodes around you. If that is you, then I also suggest that what I am writing may not be of much help. But if you are like most of the people that I know, the future of our country concerns you and you have felt this way long before this election season began to dawn on the horizon.
November is coming, whether you like it or not. I will not tell you how you should vote, but I do want to share a few facts that I hope will be helpful to you in the decision process:
- Whether you choose to vote or not, SOMEBODY is going to be elected as the next President of the United States of America. With Cruz dropping out of the Republican side, it looks like our options will be Trump, Hillary, and a possible third party candidate, that is unless some back room deals take place to totally throw the nominees in disarray. If you are boycotting this next election, then please do so with a clear conscience. I am going to vote, and you should too. If you don't you lose any voice that you want to have. And understand that someone will be elected regardless of whether or not you are part of the process.
- There has never been a perfect presidential candidate and there never will. As a follower of Jesus, I always prefer a candidate who shares my faith values to be the man or woman in office. However, I have never expected that when I cast my vote I am doing so for a messiah who will make America into some sort of theocracy. That's not gonna happen. Regardless of whether the commander in chief shares my faith in Jesus or lives as a blatant hedonist, that will have no effect on how I will live and serve my Savior. The president is not my king - Jesus is.
- Finally, and most important, whoever the next President of the United States is going to be will have absolutely no effect whatsoever on the sovereignty of God. I know that saying "God is in control!" sounds pithy and kinda churchy, but it is absolutely true. There will be no man or woman who can take the reins of control of this world out of the hands of the Creator of this world. Even though events happen that will often shake us to the core of who we are, nothing that occurs will ever catch God off guard. Where we are as a nation, society, and world is exactly where we have been heading since Adam and Eve's first act of defiance against God thousands of years ago. And God's ultimate plan has not changed: Jesus will return one day triumphant and all evil, heartache, and pain will be finally vanquished in full.
Yes, I want there to be political and economic stability in this land. But more than that, I long to see men and women place their faith in Jesus and receive the incredible gift of forgiveness, salvation, and hope that only He can bring. And I'm pretty sure that there is no president nor ballot issue that can limit that from happening.
Don't sing it, bring it!
Several years ago I became the new youth pastor at a church in Yadkinville, NC. In case you've never heard of Yadkinville or you have no idea how to pronounce it, the "d" is silent and the "i" is more like a hard "u", so it's pronounced "Ya-kun-vull" by those who really know who to speak Yadkin-ese, the local dialect there. Anyhow, the students there were all awesome and a little on the country side, which was cool because it challenged me to be a little less "city" and uptight about certain things.
Early on in my time of service there, I realized that I had a group of guys that were gifted at talking junk. You know, the kind where you playfully goad other people verbally to engage in physical challenges, all the while strutting like a peacock and "bowing up" to them. If you don't understand, then you have to accept that it's a guy thing and it's just what we do at times.
There was one kid in the group who was small for his age, but he made up for it with his vocal abilities. And boy, was he country. When he spoke, you could almost see the syrup dripping from the air. His one liners were classic as well - he would threaten to "Put a knot on the side of your head so big a calf could suck on it!" or "Knock your teeth so far down your throat you've got to drop your breeches to chew your food!" This kid was funny with his junk talking, but also a bit annoying at times because he just never seemed to stop. I loved him anyway. Most of the time.
One of this young man's favorite sayings, however, was in response to junk talk that other people delivered to him. If I ever called his bluff or threatened to hang him out of the window by his toes - not that I ever did threaten to do that, necessarily - he would come back with this line: "Don't sing it, bring it!" In other words, put your money where your mouth is. Funny how he never backed up his bravado but, then again, he was all bark and no bite himself.
Don't sing it, bring it! This is a call to action to stop talking and start doing. It's easy to talk about all sorts of things that you are going to do in your life - do better in school, make necessary lifestyle changes, be a more committed spouse, make more of a difference in this world for Jesus - but when it actually comes down to fulfilling those words, well, that's when it gets hard. It's easy to say it, yet much harder to do it. Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Think about politicians. Okay, don't think about them if you can, but that's gonna be hard because that's all we see and hear on the news today. Where was I? Oh yeah, politicians. They are the masters at saying whatever it is that they think you want to hear just so that they can win your vote, and then when they take office they are notorious for not delivering on their promises. They know how to sing it but not bring it.
The same is true of many of us who are followers of Jesus. Have you ever read something in the Bible or been given a challenge in a message that truly stirred your heart and you committed right then and there to live out that truth, only to fizzle out later in the day? I have. Or how many times have you lifted your voice in worship to an amazing God who you had no trouble praising with your lips yet never could seem to glorify with your actions? Been there, done that.
Why is it so hard to back up the words that we say? It might be because we overestimate our own abilities while at the same time underestimating the power and nature of God. You see, our God is a God of action, not merely words. When He proclaimed something in the Bible, it was always because He was about to act. There was no doubt that when He said it, those things would happen.
James knew this about God and he also knew that we were weak in the area of faithfully doing what we said we were going to do. Look at what he so skillfully writes in James 2:14-27
Since it's almost election season, I vote that we commit to be people of action and not merely words. If you don't think you can follow through, then don't say that you'll do it. But if you do lift up your voice to the Lord in praise, or have your heart stirred by the Holy Spirit to make changes in your life, or you believe that you are being compelled to live that life on mission that God has called you to, then don't sit on that. Do it.
Acknowledge that a living faith is one that is backed up by action. Change your ways. Repent of the inaction of your past. And do what you know you should do for the glory of God. Bring it, don't just sing it.
Early on in my time of service there, I realized that I had a group of guys that were gifted at talking junk. You know, the kind where you playfully goad other people verbally to engage in physical challenges, all the while strutting like a peacock and "bowing up" to them. If you don't understand, then you have to accept that it's a guy thing and it's just what we do at times.
There was one kid in the group who was small for his age, but he made up for it with his vocal abilities. And boy, was he country. When he spoke, you could almost see the syrup dripping from the air. His one liners were classic as well - he would threaten to "Put a knot on the side of your head so big a calf could suck on it!" or "Knock your teeth so far down your throat you've got to drop your breeches to chew your food!" This kid was funny with his junk talking, but also a bit annoying at times because he just never seemed to stop. I loved him anyway. Most of the time.
One of this young man's favorite sayings, however, was in response to junk talk that other people delivered to him. If I ever called his bluff or threatened to hang him out of the window by his toes - not that I ever did threaten to do that, necessarily - he would come back with this line: "Don't sing it, bring it!" In other words, put your money where your mouth is. Funny how he never backed up his bravado but, then again, he was all bark and no bite himself.
Don't sing it, bring it! This is a call to action to stop talking and start doing. It's easy to talk about all sorts of things that you are going to do in your life - do better in school, make necessary lifestyle changes, be a more committed spouse, make more of a difference in this world for Jesus - but when it actually comes down to fulfilling those words, well, that's when it gets hard. It's easy to say it, yet much harder to do it. Thank you, Captain Obvious.
Think about politicians. Okay, don't think about them if you can, but that's gonna be hard because that's all we see and hear on the news today. Where was I? Oh yeah, politicians. They are the masters at saying whatever it is that they think you want to hear just so that they can win your vote, and then when they take office they are notorious for not delivering on their promises. They know how to sing it but not bring it.
The same is true of many of us who are followers of Jesus. Have you ever read something in the Bible or been given a challenge in a message that truly stirred your heart and you committed right then and there to live out that truth, only to fizzle out later in the day? I have. Or how many times have you lifted your voice in worship to an amazing God who you had no trouble praising with your lips yet never could seem to glorify with your actions? Been there, done that.
Why is it so hard to back up the words that we say? It might be because we overestimate our own abilities while at the same time underestimating the power and nature of God. You see, our God is a God of action, not merely words. When He proclaimed something in the Bible, it was always because He was about to act. There was no doubt that when He said it, those things would happen.
James knew this about God and he also knew that we were weak in the area of faithfully doing what we said we were going to do. Look at what he so skillfully writes in James 2:14-27
Do you see what James is saying? If we say it but don't do it, then our faith is essentially useless. It's dead. That puts most of us in a bit of a pickle, because we've said and committed to certain things for God in our faith that in the end we've failed to actually do. And when we "sing it but don't bring it" for God, then it affects not just our relationship with Him, but our relationships with others suffer as well because they miss out on the work that God wants to do through us for their benefit.What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Since it's almost election season, I vote that we commit to be people of action and not merely words. If you don't think you can follow through, then don't say that you'll do it. But if you do lift up your voice to the Lord in praise, or have your heart stirred by the Holy Spirit to make changes in your life, or you believe that you are being compelled to live that life on mission that God has called you to, then don't sit on that. Do it.
Acknowledge that a living faith is one that is backed up by action. Change your ways. Repent of the inaction of your past. And do what you know you should do for the glory of God. Bring it, don't just sing it.
I ain't skeered! Are you?
Have you ever seen a big, strong weight lifter scream like a little girl when he sees a spider? Or how about a seasoned defense attorney freak out over a paper cut to her index finger? Maybe you haven't, but you can certainly picture the scenario in your head and have probably seen something similar.
We live in a world where we all want to be seen as tough and fear is a taboo to be avoided. How many movies do you see where the coward is the hero? Yet in spite of our best efforts, if we were to sit in a support group circle together and allow our defenses to come down, we would all admit to being scared of plenty of things.
But what if you realized that your fears don't actually help you cope with the looming gloom and doom that you are so certain is coming? What if you realized instead that in spite of being helpless to defend yourself against the coming Armageddon of bad healthcare/skewed politics/imminent poverty/etc., you are perfectly safe right where you are? Would you believe that?
Truth is, bad things are going to happen in this world. We've been working for centuries to fight diseases, boost the economy, defeat fascists, and improve the environment, yet time and again we have still seen people suffer and lives lost. It's at these times we are tempted to climb in our bunkers, put on our tin foil hats, and hope for the best. What we need to realize is that not only is help on the way, but that help is already here.
Whether you see it or not or agree with it or not, God is in control. He is what we call "sovereign." Nothing escapes His sight and He is well aware of the condition of our world right now. After all, He has allowed us to make the decisions that have gotten us into the messes in which we so often find ourselves. And if you believe that and you believe that Jesus came to give you life and the relationship with God that you were ultimately created for, then you probably already know that one day the Lord will return and rescue us from this mess and carry us with Him into a perfect eternity. The best is yet to come!
But for now we must live in hope and endure the hard times. God has not left us here to blow around in the winds of uncertainty, but rather He is with us every step of the way. I love the words that He spoke to Israel a few thousand years ago when they found themselves enveloped in a tempest of uncertainty:
We live in a world where we all want to be seen as tough and fear is a taboo to be avoided. How many movies do you see where the coward is the hero? Yet in spite of our best efforts, if we were to sit in a support group circle together and allow our defenses to come down, we would all admit to being scared of plenty of things.
- The possibility of our health or the health of our children being compromised
- Losing a job and being unable to support our families
- What the future of our country will look like, which means we either have Trump-phobia, Hillary-phobia, Bernie-phobia, Republican-phobia, Democrat-phobia, etc. ad nauseum.
- Or maybe we are afraid of what we see as international threats, such as ISIS, nuclear capabilities of North Korea, or our perceived leaky borders.
- The eventual takeover of the world by the Illuminati and the One World Order (c'mon, everybody is scared of a good conspiracy theory now and then!).
- Spiders. Because spiders are ALWAYS scary.
But what if you realized that your fears don't actually help you cope with the looming gloom and doom that you are so certain is coming? What if you realized instead that in spite of being helpless to defend yourself against the coming Armageddon of bad healthcare/skewed politics/imminent poverty/etc., you are perfectly safe right where you are? Would you believe that?
Truth is, bad things are going to happen in this world. We've been working for centuries to fight diseases, boost the economy, defeat fascists, and improve the environment, yet time and again we have still seen people suffer and lives lost. It's at these times we are tempted to climb in our bunkers, put on our tin foil hats, and hope for the best. What we need to realize is that not only is help on the way, but that help is already here.
Whether you see it or not or agree with it or not, God is in control. He is what we call "sovereign." Nothing escapes His sight and He is well aware of the condition of our world right now. After all, He has allowed us to make the decisions that have gotten us into the messes in which we so often find ourselves. And if you believe that and you believe that Jesus came to give you life and the relationship with God that you were ultimately created for, then you probably already know that one day the Lord will return and rescue us from this mess and carry us with Him into a perfect eternity. The best is yet to come!
But for now we must live in hope and endure the hard times. God has not left us here to blow around in the winds of uncertainty, but rather He is with us every step of the way. I love the words that He spoke to Israel a few thousand years ago when they found themselves enveloped in a tempest of uncertainty:
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand... For I, the Lord God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." (Isaiah 41:10, 13)
Twice they were told to "fear not" because there is truly nothing to fear. Did the "wrong" candidate get elected? Fear not, God is in control. Are you afraid of what the doctor's lab work will show? Fear not, God has you in His right hand. Terrified of the world that your children will have to face in the future? Fear not, God's got this.
If we are going to "fear not" then we have to believe that God is bigger than our fears. There will continue to be many things beyond our control that will cause us to wring our hands and worry about the future, causing our fear meters to spike. Yet we can take comfort in knowing that we serve a God who is greater than all our fears.
Expectations will go as low as you let them
I am subbing at a local high school as I type these words. Don't worry, they are taking a test so I'm not shirking my responsibilities. When I walked in the door this morning at the school, I was asked to sub for a class that I wasn't originally assigned for, but only for first period. It was a math class and they had plenty of work left for them to keep them busy.
For the most part they did really well, working to complete their assignments while keeping the noise to a minimum. I try to be a "cool" sub, the one who pushes them to do their assignments but doesn't crack the whip too hard. Plus, it's Friday, and everyone should catch a little bit of a break on Friday, right?
All was going well when I noticed this one student who wasn't keeping up with the rest of the others. He wasn't disruptive or anything like that. In fact, he was entirely quiet. That's because he was sound asleep the entire time he was in my class. Not once did his pencil move in rhythm with the other students as they completed their assignments. I didn't realize he was asleep until about halfway through the class - I just assumed he preferred doing his work with his head on his arm. But nevertheless, the only thing that finally grabbed his attention was the clutter of his classmates as they gathered their belongings to head out to their next class.
That disappointed me. I guess I expected some sort of effort on his part, even if what he had in front of him was little more than busy work handed out by a substitute teacher such as myself. My expectation for him exceeded his reality.
Have you ever expected something from someone but only been disappointed when they failed to deliver? How many times have you supported a certain political candidate only to become frustrated when he or she neglected to follow through on their promises? Pretty much every time, right?
The question that needs to be asked then is, "Do we expect too much from other people?" It's hard to give blanket answer to a question that broad, but the best answer would be NO, we should not expect less from others when we know full well they have the ability to give more than they are willing to deliver.
The key word here is willing. When people can do more, they should. A saying that I like to use is that people will often only go as low as the bar you set for them. If you run for political office and you make a promise, then you should do everything in your power to deliver on that promise. If you don't, then it shows that you are unwilling to raise yourself above the minimum height of the bar that's been set for you.
Expectations don't have to be unrealistic and they don't have to disappoint us. A good rule to go by when fulfilling your own obligations is to expect more from yourself first than you do from other people.
Raise the bar for yourself. Don't settle for barely getting by when you know that you are capable of more. And before you become too disappointed at other people for not coming through, make sure that you are delivering on the goods that you have promised to others and to yourself.
The best leaders lead from the front, not the back
This past weekend I had two conversations regarding the state of public education in the state in which I live. Okay, they were more muted down diatribes delivered by yours truly than they were conversations, but I had a captive audience and I just couldn't help myself.
If you are resident of the great state of North Carolina, then you know the rough state of affairs that our public schools and teachers are facing. With four children of my own in public schools, I share your concerns. And as one who tries so hard not to be overly political with issues - I call them as I see them and am a proud registered Independent - it's hard not to get frustrated with the perceived lack of concern for our public schools from those in Raleigh whom we all had a hand in electing. Besides, I've yet to see a legislator sitting in a classroom in my community striving to understand exactly what is going on before he or she casts their next vote.
It gets frustrating to see a revolving door of seemingly qualified school leaders that get the boot when the least bit of trouble comes along. It seems as if those who hold the keys to power like to knee jerk and replace superintendents and principals every other year when test scores or performance standards aren't met.
This confuses me because I don't know one principal who has the time or ability to sit down with each individual student and personally tutor them and monitor their progress. Yes, that is where the teachers come in, and the ones that I know do the best they can to ensure that students will succeed. But let's be honest - when our teachers have to go to their second job of the day as soon as the final bell rings, that tells us that not only do they not have the proper amount of time in a given day to invest in the students as they would like, they also aren't paid enough to do the work that otherwise they would gladly do. At some point parents come into play in this whole equation, yet their influence is often not even mentioned when it comes to the success or failing of our students.
What am I getting at here? Am I about to go off on a political rant? No, not even close.
My point is that when we see any system in our world - whether education, business, non-profit, etc. - in action, we should do our best to learn from what we see. Leadership is such a broad subject to tackle and I don't pretend to be an expert on all things leadership. But I know what I see and I am able to discern the good leaders from the bad ones in hope that I will be considered one of the former.
So here is my point: The best leaders are those who lead from the front, not the back.
It is so easy to call the shots sitting in a cushy chair behind a glass window. That's what a manager does. But leaders are those who leave the office and get on the ground level with their employees, choosing to treat them as co-workers and not hired hands. Leaders steer the car. Managers are back seat drivers.
As one who has been entrusted with overseeing people, I never want to be that guy who points his finger and tells people what to do without actually being there with them to do it. The greatest example I have ever seen of this was Jesus. He recruited twelve men to minister with Him and gave each of them certain tasks to perform. And when He sent them out on their own, He didn't retreat to the casa and wait for them to come back. Instead, He stayed in the field with them so that He could observe their progress and celebrate their successes with them.
Jesus never led from the back and we shouldn't either. As the ultimate leader, Jesus did what we could not do - He gave His life so that we could know God. But from this we understand just how important it is that we lead from the front, modeling the same style of servant leadership that He mastered. And we do so not to be promoted or have a banquet in our honor, but rather so that we can see others around us flourish as they are striving to reach their God-given potential. When others around you succeed, we all win.
If you are resident of the great state of North Carolina, then you know the rough state of affairs that our public schools and teachers are facing. With four children of my own in public schools, I share your concerns. And as one who tries so hard not to be overly political with issues - I call them as I see them and am a proud registered Independent - it's hard not to get frustrated with the perceived lack of concern for our public schools from those in Raleigh whom we all had a hand in electing. Besides, I've yet to see a legislator sitting in a classroom in my community striving to understand exactly what is going on before he or she casts their next vote.
It gets frustrating to see a revolving door of seemingly qualified school leaders that get the boot when the least bit of trouble comes along. It seems as if those who hold the keys to power like to knee jerk and replace superintendents and principals every other year when test scores or performance standards aren't met.
This confuses me because I don't know one principal who has the time or ability to sit down with each individual student and personally tutor them and monitor their progress. Yes, that is where the teachers come in, and the ones that I know do the best they can to ensure that students will succeed. But let's be honest - when our teachers have to go to their second job of the day as soon as the final bell rings, that tells us that not only do they not have the proper amount of time in a given day to invest in the students as they would like, they also aren't paid enough to do the work that otherwise they would gladly do. At some point parents come into play in this whole equation, yet their influence is often not even mentioned when it comes to the success or failing of our students.
What am I getting at here? Am I about to go off on a political rant? No, not even close.
My point is that when we see any system in our world - whether education, business, non-profit, etc. - in action, we should do our best to learn from what we see. Leadership is such a broad subject to tackle and I don't pretend to be an expert on all things leadership. But I know what I see and I am able to discern the good leaders from the bad ones in hope that I will be considered one of the former.
So here is my point: The best leaders are those who lead from the front, not the back.
It is so easy to call the shots sitting in a cushy chair behind a glass window. That's what a manager does. But leaders are those who leave the office and get on the ground level with their employees, choosing to treat them as co-workers and not hired hands. Leaders steer the car. Managers are back seat drivers.
As one who has been entrusted with overseeing people, I never want to be that guy who points his finger and tells people what to do without actually being there with them to do it. The greatest example I have ever seen of this was Jesus. He recruited twelve men to minister with Him and gave each of them certain tasks to perform. And when He sent them out on their own, He didn't retreat to the casa and wait for them to come back. Instead, He stayed in the field with them so that He could observe their progress and celebrate their successes with them.
Jesus never led from the back and we shouldn't either. As the ultimate leader, Jesus did what we could not do - He gave His life so that we could know God. But from this we understand just how important it is that we lead from the front, modeling the same style of servant leadership that He mastered. And we do so not to be promoted or have a banquet in our honor, but rather so that we can see others around us flourish as they are striving to reach their God-given potential. When others around you succeed, we all win.
Helping when it all seems so helpless
Just in case you just climbed out of a time capsule, I just wanted to let you know that the news lately hasn't been all that good. We can start with the terror attacks in Paris last Friday, where over 100 people were senselessly murdered in a hail of gunfire, bombs, and mayhem. The media has made sure that we know every ounce of information (and disinformation) about this tragedy, and in doing so we have all been made even more aware of the horrific plight that the Syrian refugees are facing in their attempt to escape their homeland in the advance of ISIS plundering and domination.
The conundrums that these issues have raised are numerous. There are many who desperately want to help those in need right now - how can we turn away Syrian refugees who are desperately seeking a safe haven in which to raise their families? Others, however, are exercising caution for fear that another country's conflict might be brought to their own backyard. Passions are inflamed, accusations are hurled, politicians are grandstanding, and social medial is bursting at the seams with ill-informed rhetoric and cyber narcissism.
What are we supposed to do?
There is no simple answer to this question and gaining any semblance of consensus seems next to impossible. As one who has tried unsuccessfully to use online outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to engage in positive dialogue about divisive issues, I want to take a few minutes of your time to offer a few suggestions about what all of us might want to do as we wrestle with these issues and seek some sort of path toward a solution that we will want to take. While these ideas may seem simplistic and certainly aren't exhaustive, I hope that they can serve as a good starting point for many of you.
First, we all need to understand that any humanitarian crisis is a big deal, not just the one(s) that the media draws to our attention. This is no way diminishes the urgency of the situation with the Syrian refugees, but if you did not know any better you would think that outside of Syria and northern Iraq the rest of the world was all unicorns and butterflies. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
This understanding leads to my second suggestion: Respect that others may not share your passion for the same crisis that has gripped your heart and emotions. Why is this important? Because arguing with someone on Facebook or Twitter has never (at least to my knowledge) solved any major world crisis. The man or woman who is not passionate about the Syrian refugees in the same way that you are may not be bigoted or hate-filled - it may be that he or she is invested in other similar worthy causes that have grabbed their heart strings.
Sure, there are idiots out there who want to label everyone a terrorist and attempt to deny them their basic needs, but more often than not the vast majority do not understand the ramifications of the crisis at hand because the information being fed to them comes from multiple one-sided sources. Engaging in verbal sparring matches on social media will not help the greater cause at hand. Sure, you may be right about your position, but there may be nothing more polarizing than turning your passion for a cause into a know-it-all symposium where you shame anyone and everyone who does not share your views.
Finally, be proactive. Do what you know to do right now. This may be raising awareness in a forum that is respected and trusted (contacting your government officials, doing thorough research of the issues, etc.), give financially to those organizations that have the means to help right now, or committing yourself to pray for those affected by senseless tragedies. Whatever you choose to do, do it in the direction that changes things in a positive direction no matter how small or insignificant others may perceive it to be. World Vision, International Justice Mission, and The A21 Campaign are just a few of the organizations out there that are seeking to help those who are in the greatest need. Anything that you give is better than nothing at all. Get out from behind your keyboard and do something.
When it comes to humanitarian issues, most of us can agree that helping is a good thing. While we may not always agree on politics and the solutions to the worlds problems, you don't need permission to care. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). He also warned us to protect those who have been entrusted to our care from those who would bring them harm or lead them astray (John 10:1-13). Yes, there is a tension here, but none of that can keep you or me from doing what we can to seek justice and provide for those who are in desperate need right now.
The conundrums that these issues have raised are numerous. There are many who desperately want to help those in need right now - how can we turn away Syrian refugees who are desperately seeking a safe haven in which to raise their families? Others, however, are exercising caution for fear that another country's conflict might be brought to their own backyard. Passions are inflamed, accusations are hurled, politicians are grandstanding, and social medial is bursting at the seams with ill-informed rhetoric and cyber narcissism.
What are we supposed to do?
There is no simple answer to this question and gaining any semblance of consensus seems next to impossible. As one who has tried unsuccessfully to use online outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to engage in positive dialogue about divisive issues, I want to take a few minutes of your time to offer a few suggestions about what all of us might want to do as we wrestle with these issues and seek some sort of path toward a solution that we will want to take. While these ideas may seem simplistic and certainly aren't exhaustive, I hope that they can serve as a good starting point for many of you.
First, we all need to understand that any humanitarian crisis is a big deal, not just the one(s) that the media draws to our attention. This is no way diminishes the urgency of the situation with the Syrian refugees, but if you did not know any better you would think that outside of Syria and northern Iraq the rest of the world was all unicorns and butterflies. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
- Right now the Ebola virus is still ravaging many areas of West Africa, especially the countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Over 6,000 men, women, and children have died from the disease so far and it's spread is far from contained.
- Over the past few years 2.4 million people have been displaced in South Sudan due to war and as many as 4.6 million people will face food shortages in that region this year.
- 2.5 million people across Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras face food shortages due to severe drought that has prohibited the cultivation of their staple crops.
- Ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic has displaced at least 430,000 people from their homes.
This understanding leads to my second suggestion: Respect that others may not share your passion for the same crisis that has gripped your heart and emotions. Why is this important? Because arguing with someone on Facebook or Twitter has never (at least to my knowledge) solved any major world crisis. The man or woman who is not passionate about the Syrian refugees in the same way that you are may not be bigoted or hate-filled - it may be that he or she is invested in other similar worthy causes that have grabbed their heart strings.
Sure, there are idiots out there who want to label everyone a terrorist and attempt to deny them their basic needs, but more often than not the vast majority do not understand the ramifications of the crisis at hand because the information being fed to them comes from multiple one-sided sources. Engaging in verbal sparring matches on social media will not help the greater cause at hand. Sure, you may be right about your position, but there may be nothing more polarizing than turning your passion for a cause into a know-it-all symposium where you shame anyone and everyone who does not share your views.
Finally, be proactive. Do what you know to do right now. This may be raising awareness in a forum that is respected and trusted (contacting your government officials, doing thorough research of the issues, etc.), give financially to those organizations that have the means to help right now, or committing yourself to pray for those affected by senseless tragedies. Whatever you choose to do, do it in the direction that changes things in a positive direction no matter how small or insignificant others may perceive it to be. World Vision, International Justice Mission, and The A21 Campaign are just a few of the organizations out there that are seeking to help those who are in the greatest need. Anything that you give is better than nothing at all. Get out from behind your keyboard and do something.
When it comes to humanitarian issues, most of us can agree that helping is a good thing. While we may not always agree on politics and the solutions to the worlds problems, you don't need permission to care. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). He also warned us to protect those who have been entrusted to our care from those who would bring them harm or lead them astray (John 10:1-13). Yes, there is a tension here, but none of that can keep you or me from doing what we can to seek justice and provide for those who are in desperate need right now.
Don't be afraid to say the "S" word
As a kid, I never had my mouth washed out with soap due to foul language. Now this isn't because I never said a bad word, but rather because my parents probably never heard me. In truth, the real reason I was cautious to never utter a profane word in front of my parents is because of some wisely crafted medicine that my mom administered to me early on. During a stirring conversation about the consequences of bad language, she introduced me to the flavor of baking soda delivered in a tea spoon that would be punishment for verbal indiscretions. After tasting that awful powder, I vowed never to allow that stuff to pass my lips again.
There are many words that are taboo in our culture and just simply should not be spoken. Or if we do say them, they are delivered in hushed tones so that no one else can hear. Some words are so foul to the ears that, when uttered, cause us to recoil in disgust and leave the conversation if not the room altogether. We reference these abominable sayings with abbreviations or code words so that our hearers will know what we are talking about without us actually having to say the dreaded word itself (i.e., "Johnny got in trouble at school for saying the "D" word").
Today, many words and phrases that were considered scandalous to utter just a few decades ago are now commonplace in our media and entertainment fronts. There do not seem to be many limits placed on what is now acceptable for the human ear to hear. But there is one word that is still banned in many circles and has been declared irrelevant if not ridiculous by a plethora of social, political, and even religious groups. The word in question is the dreaded "S" word:
There are many words that are taboo in our culture and just simply should not be spoken. Or if we do say them, they are delivered in hushed tones so that no one else can hear. Some words are so foul to the ears that, when uttered, cause us to recoil in disgust and leave the conversation if not the room altogether. We reference these abominable sayings with abbreviations or code words so that our hearers will know what we are talking about without us actually having to say the dreaded word itself (i.e., "Johnny got in trouble at school for saying the "D" word").
Today, many words and phrases that were considered scandalous to utter just a few decades ago are now commonplace in our media and entertainment fronts. There do not seem to be many limits placed on what is now acceptable for the human ear to hear. But there is one word that is still banned in many circles and has been declared irrelevant if not ridiculous by a plethora of social, political, and even religious groups. The word in question is the dreaded "S" word:
Sin
Sin is no longer discussed - it's not even allowed to be mentioned in some settings - because it is considered an archaic concept that our world has rejected because of its lack of relevance to the overall human experience. After all, with relativism reigning supreme in our world, sin only serves to deconstruct many of the ivory palaces that we have built for ourselves. Therefore sin is no longer considered a valid option for everyday vernacular. Sure, you can mention that word in your closed religious meetings, just don't try to force your dogma on the rest of the populace.
A casual perusing of the news will reveal that there is much in our world that is seemingly out of balance. Just recently, there has been much civil unrest in America over what many believe to be police brutality caused by racial profiling. Just the other day a young woman was doused with lighter fluid and set ablaze inside of her car, left to suffer a horrific death. We can't forget the multitude of school and work place shootings that we have witnessed over the past decade and that occur with shocking regularity. The list of terrible and brutal crimes and tragedies seems to be never ending, as do our explanations for why such events continue to plague our society: Intolerance is the problem, racism is the problem, drugs are the problem, guns are the problem, elitism is the problem, etc.
But those explanations are only the symptoms of what lies deeper beneath the surface of the ills that our world suffers. You see, the root problem of the evil and carnage and suffering that is experienced worldwide is found in that dirty little "S" word, sin. That word that no one wants to acknowledge because certainly we can discover a more acceptable way to define the errors rampant in the human condition. We will work ourselves into oblivion trying to explain society's behavior - everything from blaming politics, poverty, racism, classism, and even culture itself - but in doing so we miss the very reason why all of these issues have come into being. Sin.
For the wages of sin is death... (Romans 6:23)
Many, while reading this, will choose to cast another label at me to explain away the reality of sin - superstitious Bible thumper. But here is the truth that so many want to ignore: The reason that racism, hate, violence, rape, murder, and injustice exists is not because of a system suddenly gone wrong, but rather because of the inherent sin that resides within man. Sinful men make sinful decisions that affect everyone.
Sin is nothing short of acting contrary to the character and holiness of God. Sin gives birth to the selfishness, hate, and greed that fuels all of our world's problems. We need to look no further than inside the heart of man to diagnose the problems that, when left untreated, grow to epidemic proportions. And if all that we know is the root of the problem without a solution for it, then we can expect that our world will never be anything more than a cesspool for the wicked.
But there is good news out there. Instead of trying to politicize or protest or loot our social ills away - which will never, ever succeed on any level - let us go to the solution that has already been laid out before us, the one found in the second portion of Romans 6:23:
...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Many won't find that a suitable solution and will continue to pursue change and growth through a flawed human system that has proven itself time and again woefully inadequate to bring hope, peace, and reconciliation. But the truth is, we cannot simply legislate or debate away the reality of sin. It must be tackled head on and the good news is that the war has already been waged - and won - on our behalf by Jesus. His death on the cross conquered sin and there will come a day when sin is vanquished forever. This means that, if you are in Christ, sin no longer has control over you. Though you still feel its ravaging effects, sin no longer owns you. And when Jesus is your center, then sin no longer is the determining factor in your life and decisions.
Sin is the ultimate problem. Jesus is the only answer. Anything less results in hopeless rhetoric, divisiveness, and endless frustration. It's time to take the censors off of the "S" word.
A love letter to all of my Christian friends
Dear Christian Friends,
Let me first say how much I love each one of you. It's amazing how brothers and sisters can be so different yet united under the banner of Jesus. I treasure all of the insights that you have given to me as we've had civilized discussions and a few healthy debates about various aspects of the Christian faith.I am eternally grateful for the men and women who have poured into and continue to invest in my life. Hugs.
But (and you knew that was coming, right?) I believe that we are missing the mark greatly in the area of love. And just to keep the tone of this letter fair, I am going to address all of you as "we" because I am in the same boat. I'm preaching to the choir, if you will, although I never really enjoyed choir and don't really have the voice to pull off anything special beyond the sanctuary of my car. In fact, I would go so far to say that the most comments I hear from those who aren't Christians about those who are believers is that, whenever they are around them, they feel judged, looked down upon, and essentially unloved.
I realize that this point can be sticky, so please read it very carefully before you label me some kind of heretic and unfriend me on social media. Bluntly speaking, we stink at loving people who don't know Jesus. We say that we do, we hold meetings and events at our churches inviting those who don't know Jesus to come, and we even leave gospel tracts along with our often paltry tips at restaurants so that our server with the tattoos and piercings can get to know our Jesus. How can I say that you don't show love?
I say this because we treat the love of God as if we can package it in a box and unload it on others when it's most convenient. I also say this because we are notorious for withholding love from those who need it the most.
Let me explain with an example. Mission trips are awesome. If you've ever been on one either in the United States or overseas, you understand just how much impact they can have on another community not to mention on yourself. We also look around at our local community and seek to fill the needs that are put in front of us, such as volunteering for a 2-hour block at the soup kitchen or donating clothes to Goodwill. It's such an awesome feeling to bless those who have less!
But you have no clue what to do with your friend who is struggling with homosexual temptations or has already give in to them. That guy at school or at work who is an atheist - we avoid him completely. Those freaks that we see walking around town with all of the tattoos, piercings, and ungodly swagger - well, I just pray that they find Jesus soon because it looks to me like this world is going to hell in a hand basket!
You see, whether we like to admit it or not, we really only want to love those who have, in our eyes, the potential to be lovely. And by doing so we exclude ourselves from much of the dirt and junk that plagues the lives of the rest of the world that needs Jesus. How do we do this? Sometimes we are subtle. We simply pray for "those people" to know Jesus while secretly believing that they might not ever and hoping that it won't be us who actually have to go tell them about Him. But if I leave a tract by a urinal in the bathroom that counts, right?
And sometimes we are not so subtle with our lack of love. Whether it's a preacher railing against homosexuality from he pulpit to a crowd of hetero-and-proud church members or boycotting an amusement park or food company because they support a questionable cause, all of that speaks to a spiritual arrogance that is destructive and unbiblical masked under the banner of "We're taking a stand against sin." Don't get me wrong, we are to love God and hate sin, yet more often than not we fail to separate sin from the sinner and just hate them both. But we'll still pray for them, right?
Look, we can do better than that. We are called to BE better than that. I realize that we live in a world that is full of filth and smut and greed and Democrats and Republicans. Times are tough, spiritually and morally speaking. Every time we go and elect a Christian politician and a great revival in our land doesn't follow suit, we edge closer and closer to the cliff of gloom and doom. So here is what I am challenging myself to do about it and what I am going to challenge you to do as well:
Your friend and co-laborer in Christ,
Sterling
Let me first say how much I love each one of you. It's amazing how brothers and sisters can be so different yet united under the banner of Jesus. I treasure all of the insights that you have given to me as we've had civilized discussions and a few healthy debates about various aspects of the Christian faith.I am eternally grateful for the men and women who have poured into and continue to invest in my life. Hugs.
But (and you knew that was coming, right?) I believe that we are missing the mark greatly in the area of love. And just to keep the tone of this letter fair, I am going to address all of you as "we" because I am in the same boat. I'm preaching to the choir, if you will, although I never really enjoyed choir and don't really have the voice to pull off anything special beyond the sanctuary of my car. In fact, I would go so far to say that the most comments I hear from those who aren't Christians about those who are believers is that, whenever they are around them, they feel judged, looked down upon, and essentially unloved.
I realize that this point can be sticky, so please read it very carefully before you label me some kind of heretic and unfriend me on social media. Bluntly speaking, we stink at loving people who don't know Jesus. We say that we do, we hold meetings and events at our churches inviting those who don't know Jesus to come, and we even leave gospel tracts along with our often paltry tips at restaurants so that our server with the tattoos and piercings can get to know our Jesus. How can I say that you don't show love?
I say this because we treat the love of God as if we can package it in a box and unload it on others when it's most convenient. I also say this because we are notorious for withholding love from those who need it the most.
Let me explain with an example. Mission trips are awesome. If you've ever been on one either in the United States or overseas, you understand just how much impact they can have on another community not to mention on yourself. We also look around at our local community and seek to fill the needs that are put in front of us, such as volunteering for a 2-hour block at the soup kitchen or donating clothes to Goodwill. It's such an awesome feeling to bless those who have less!
But you have no clue what to do with your friend who is struggling with homosexual temptations or has already give in to them. That guy at school or at work who is an atheist - we avoid him completely. Those freaks that we see walking around town with all of the tattoos, piercings, and ungodly swagger - well, I just pray that they find Jesus soon because it looks to me like this world is going to hell in a hand basket!
You see, whether we like to admit it or not, we really only want to love those who have, in our eyes, the potential to be lovely. And by doing so we exclude ourselves from much of the dirt and junk that plagues the lives of the rest of the world that needs Jesus. How do we do this? Sometimes we are subtle. We simply pray for "those people" to know Jesus while secretly believing that they might not ever and hoping that it won't be us who actually have to go tell them about Him. But if I leave a tract by a urinal in the bathroom that counts, right?
And sometimes we are not so subtle with our lack of love. Whether it's a preacher railing against homosexuality from he pulpit to a crowd of hetero-and-proud church members or boycotting an amusement park or food company because they support a questionable cause, all of that speaks to a spiritual arrogance that is destructive and unbiblical masked under the banner of "We're taking a stand against sin." Don't get me wrong, we are to love God and hate sin, yet more often than not we fail to separate sin from the sinner and just hate them both. But we'll still pray for them, right?
Look, we can do better than that. We are called to BE better than that. I realize that we live in a world that is full of filth and smut and greed and Democrats and Republicans. Times are tough, spiritually and morally speaking. Every time we go and elect a Christian politician and a great revival in our land doesn't follow suit, we edge closer and closer to the cliff of gloom and doom. So here is what I am challenging myself to do about it and what I am going to challenge you to do as well:
- I challenge you to love Jesus more - Make Him your sole desire, your passion
- I challenge you to love yourself less - If you get the above one right, this one will naturally follow
- I challenge you to love others more than you love yourself - Yeah, this is hard. It's also biblical. And commanded. And modeled by Jesus (See: the crucifixion, the entire book of Acts, Philippians 2, etc.).
- I challenge you stop loving your opinions and traditions more than you love the word of God - There I go meddlin'! But seriously, how much of what you believe about the love of God is based upon what you've been told or seen demonstrated over the years as opposed to what the word of God actually teaches? How many stones have you stooped to pick up in order to toss at others while ignoring the grace that God has lavished on you? (Ephesians 1:7) The answers depend on how willing you are to submit to the teachings of Scripture and not a bunch of opinions masquerading as godliness.
Your friend and co-laborer in Christ,
Sterling
Controversy: An American Addiction
Although I love to write and record my thoughts and observations, I'm not exactly the reading enthusiast that I want to be. Picking up a book is thrilling at first, but unless it just wows me beyond measure I often struggle to trudge through to the end. I've never been diagnosed with ADD or anything like that, but I do believe that my attention span is severely hampered by my overactive brain and imagination.
I know some guys who spend what seems like hours each day reading blogs. Theological blogs, political blogs, social-commentary blogs, whatever they can get their hands on. As a blog writer myself, one would think that I would take great pleasure in perusing the blog landscape that is so vast and dynamic. But I don't. I rarely read blog posts. Yet everyone once in awhile when a controversy arises and I see all of the related blog entries linked on social media sites, I will take a detour to enlighten myself with the opinions of man.
It seems to me that the more controversial an issue is, the more blogs will be written by those who want to cash in on the controversy. Take for instance the whole Ducky Dynasty drama from a couple of weeks ago. As a fan of Duck Dynasty and a follower of Christ as Phil Robertson is, I took to the blogosphere to uncover the varying points of view that were sure to follow after Phil aired his opinions in an interview for GQ magazine. The results were rather predictable.
Those blogs written by men and women of faith were quick to point to Phil's dedication to Jesus and integrity. They did not excuse the coarse language that he uttered in his interview, but they stood by the truth in what he said. On the other side of the aisle was a smaller yet very vocal group who lambasted Phil Robertson for words that, in their opinion, were offensive at least and bigoted and racist at worst. I lost count of the massive amounts of blog posts relating to the subject.
Now that the dust has settled a bit on the Duck Dynasty controversy, the blog world has grown a little more quiet and subdued. That will all change when the next controversy hits the front page of the news, but for now we have a bit of a reprieve. Which brings me to my big question:
I know some guys who spend what seems like hours each day reading blogs. Theological blogs, political blogs, social-commentary blogs, whatever they can get their hands on. As a blog writer myself, one would think that I would take great pleasure in perusing the blog landscape that is so vast and dynamic. But I don't. I rarely read blog posts. Yet everyone once in awhile when a controversy arises and I see all of the related blog entries linked on social media sites, I will take a detour to enlighten myself with the opinions of man.
It seems to me that the more controversial an issue is, the more blogs will be written by those who want to cash in on the controversy. Take for instance the whole Ducky Dynasty drama from a couple of weeks ago. As a fan of Duck Dynasty and a follower of Christ as Phil Robertson is, I took to the blogosphere to uncover the varying points of view that were sure to follow after Phil aired his opinions in an interview for GQ magazine. The results were rather predictable.
Those blogs written by men and women of faith were quick to point to Phil's dedication to Jesus and integrity. They did not excuse the coarse language that he uttered in his interview, but they stood by the truth in what he said. On the other side of the aisle was a smaller yet very vocal group who lambasted Phil Robertson for words that, in their opinion, were offensive at least and bigoted and racist at worst. I lost count of the massive amounts of blog posts relating to the subject.
Now that the dust has settled a bit on the Duck Dynasty controversy, the blog world has grown a little more quiet and subdued. That will all change when the next controversy hits the front page of the news, but for now we have a bit of a reprieve. Which brings me to my big question:
Why is controversy so appealing to us?
Admit it - you pay attention more when the stories are a bit more daring and scandalous. We all do! That's the only way that news stations can stay in business. If your local newscast was filled with nothing but happy stories of people living normal, healthy lives, no one would watch for very long. Why is that? I believe it's because we thrive on controversy.
Think about it. If someone messes up big time, you have the opportunity to be a social or political or religious critic from a distance. From the comfort of your computer screen, you can follow all the banter and unceasing gluts of information while remaining anonymous if you choose. Then, when you meet the ladies for coffee or grab lunch with the guys, you feel empowered to join in the conversation when it inevitably rolls around to the latest controversy that's been stirred up.
If you are gifted at writing, controversy fuels your stories and blogs. Just read the editorial section of any newspaper. Just how pithy and crass can you be without sounding too arrogant or hostile? And it doesn't matter if the popular controversy directly affects you or not; throwing your opinion out there is the American way.
We often feel the need to feed the beast of controversy, especially when the facts surrounding it are scant. This is especially true if you disagree with the philosophy or ideas of the person embroiled in controversy. How bad was a presidential decision? That all depends on whether you voted for him or not. Is there a controversial issue out there that stands in stark contrast to your values and beliefs? Then feel free to demonize the opposing side as much as you can in spite of the facts or lack thereof that are out there. If you continue to feed the beast, you will have more time to take it out for a walk.
I have a suggestion for all of us when it comes to controversies that plague our headlines daily: Pray for those who are struggling under the weight of poor decisions or ill-advised words. Before you type that blog or post about it on Facebook, pray for them. And then do something else: Consider whether or not your input is truly needed in the matter. Sure, you have an opinion - we all do - but will your opinion make things better or only invite more controversy? If you can't wait to see how many people comment on your post, then you already have your answer.
One more thought on the whole controversy issues. What if you were the one at the center of the controversy? How would you want others to respond to you? Would it delight you to see animosity and ill-informed opinions posted at your expense? Probably not. While those who act or speak poorly should be held accountable, it's probably not your or me who will get to do the rebuking. So when you pray for those who are embroiled in controversy, make sure to extend to them the grace that you would so desperately want if you were behind the bulls eye. When we refuse to feed the beast of controversy, it's funny how quickly it dies and goes away.
A real leader is one who serves. Are you listening, DC?
For obvious reasons I stay away from writing or sharing about politics as much as possible. Nobody every seems to agree on anything and I've yet to see a community become politically united over a few pithy social media posts. That being said, I'm gonna touch on politics a little bit today but hopefully not in the way that would label me as "that guy."
It's hard to ignore the turmoil in our country right now. We seem to add a new issue everyday to a long list of concerns that has more than enough of us wringing our hands in doubt and confusion over the future. Whether it's the health care crisis, budget concerns, or the fact that in spite of all the talk of the importance of education it still gets underfunded, there are many things which seem to be spiraling out of control.
In my teens and 20's, I considered myself a bit of a maverick concerning my political views, ready to debate with the best of them. Now, not so much. I no longer carry a party label but rather have registered myself as an "Independent" because neither side seems to fully represent my views. This way, I am free to examine a particular candidate or issue and vote my conscience without having to worry about whether or not I am betraying some kind of intrinsic loyalty. That being said, I join many of my fellow citizens in being less than dazzled over how our leaders are handling the current state of affairs in our country.
Just overhearing basic conversations, I get the idea that most of the people in America pretty much know what they want. The problem I'm seeing is that there seems to be scant communication at best between the politicians in place and the people that they represent. Sure, I've called my state and national representatives offices and voiced my concerns, but voice mail is hardly my idea of what it means to be concerned about one's constituents. Yet more than the issues are at stake in all of this. Whether or not a budget gets passed or schools get funded are important issues, but they speak of a more dire underlying void that grows deeper in the daily doings of our elected officials: A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.
Leaders lead in spite of. That's a mantra that I've been throwing around for years now. Yet this is hardly what we see in our state or our nation's capital. Leadership is such a broad term encompassing a myriad of character and personality traits, but perhaps the most crucial aspect of a good leader and one that is most often ignored is that of servant leadership. Most political leaders are in place because the will of others have put him or her there. The goal of a political leader is to serve the interest of the people, and in doing so it might mean the sacrificing of more than one personal agenda. This is the ideal but hardly the reality.
Let me give you an excellent example of what this looks like. Go back a few thousand years ago to ancient Israel where a guy named David was king. During his reign he enjoyed much success and the people loved and followed him willingly, not because he lorded his position over them but rather because he was willing to sacrifice first what he demanded of others.
David wanted to build a magnificent temple for God, yet he knew that it would not get built during his lifetime. Instead, he instructed his son and successor, Solomon, on how to build it when he became king. David worked hard to gather as many materials as possible for the construction of this beautiful edifice, but he asked for no more from the people he led than he was willing to give himself. David was fabulously wealthy, yet he had no problem donating most of his personal treasure for the project. In turn, the leaders under King David did the same. How did this affect the people of Israel?
I do not know how to fix what's going on in Washington nor do I care to dive into open and hostile debate about it. But I do believe this: If those that we have elected to lead us would give as much to working together to solve the current crises as they demand from the rest of us, then these problems would be things of the past.
It's hard to ignore the turmoil in our country right now. We seem to add a new issue everyday to a long list of concerns that has more than enough of us wringing our hands in doubt and confusion over the future. Whether it's the health care crisis, budget concerns, or the fact that in spite of all the talk of the importance of education it still gets underfunded, there are many things which seem to be spiraling out of control.
In my teens and 20's, I considered myself a bit of a maverick concerning my political views, ready to debate with the best of them. Now, not so much. I no longer carry a party label but rather have registered myself as an "Independent" because neither side seems to fully represent my views. This way, I am free to examine a particular candidate or issue and vote my conscience without having to worry about whether or not I am betraying some kind of intrinsic loyalty. That being said, I join many of my fellow citizens in being less than dazzled over how our leaders are handling the current state of affairs in our country.
Just overhearing basic conversations, I get the idea that most of the people in America pretty much know what they want. The problem I'm seeing is that there seems to be scant communication at best between the politicians in place and the people that they represent. Sure, I've called my state and national representatives offices and voiced my concerns, but voice mail is hardly my idea of what it means to be concerned about one's constituents. Yet more than the issues are at stake in all of this. Whether or not a budget gets passed or schools get funded are important issues, but they speak of a more dire underlying void that grows deeper in the daily doings of our elected officials: A LACK OF LEADERSHIP.
Leaders lead in spite of. That's a mantra that I've been throwing around for years now. Yet this is hardly what we see in our state or our nation's capital. Leadership is such a broad term encompassing a myriad of character and personality traits, but perhaps the most crucial aspect of a good leader and one that is most often ignored is that of servant leadership. Most political leaders are in place because the will of others have put him or her there. The goal of a political leader is to serve the interest of the people, and in doing so it might mean the sacrificing of more than one personal agenda. This is the ideal but hardly the reality.
Let me give you an excellent example of what this looks like. Go back a few thousand years ago to ancient Israel where a guy named David was king. During his reign he enjoyed much success and the people loved and followed him willingly, not because he lorded his position over them but rather because he was willing to sacrifice first what he demanded of others.
David wanted to build a magnificent temple for God, yet he knew that it would not get built during his lifetime. Instead, he instructed his son and successor, Solomon, on how to build it when he became king. David worked hard to gather as many materials as possible for the construction of this beautiful edifice, but he asked for no more from the people he led than he was willing to give himself. David was fabulously wealthy, yet he had no problem donating most of his personal treasure for the project. In turn, the leaders under King David did the same. How did this affect the people of Israel?
Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders' willingness to give, for they had given all they had to the Lord with a whole heart. (1 Chronicles 29:1-9)King David and the other leaders under him knew that if they were not willing to count the cost and give what they had, they had no business asking the people to do the same. What an amazing, novel concept that has been by-and-large lost on this generation of leaders. What if our president, senators, and congressmen were willing to do the same?
I do not know how to fix what's going on in Washington nor do I care to dive into open and hostile debate about it. But I do believe this: If those that we have elected to lead us would give as much to working together to solve the current crises as they demand from the rest of us, then these problems would be things of the past.
Desperately trying to find that middle ground
Have you been reading the news lately? Not a whole lot of positives are being splashed on the headlines, but then that's no surprise. Syria has done some pretty awful things to their own people, but then no one is really sure who actually authorized what so the world is at sort of a standstill on how to respond. Some want to bomb them to send a message, but without all the facts what good will that do?
Then there's Egypt, another big mess. There were a much bigger deal before someone in Syria began gassing fellow Syrians, but they still have many problems that no seems to know how to work out. Hundreds are dead and the government is no longer trusted, but whose to blame for all of the problems? Just where does the buck stop?
I'm glad I'm not the one making national and global political decisions because there seems to be no cut-and-dry answers out there. Diplomacy is always a good first choice, but when no one is listening it's hard to sit back and just tell others to be nice to each other. Even when the nations come together as a coalition, the truth seems so hard to come by (see: Iraq). Many so desperately want to find a middle ground, a common denominator that both sides of the conflicts can agree on, but that rarely if ever seems to happen.
When did our world become so ambiguous?
Answer: It always has been.
As long as people are involved, things are gonna be messy. All sides of the argument will claim that their points are most valid, while the rest of us are trying to figure out where the truth lies. And that's where most of these problems begin - there is no handle on truth. The world exists in its own bath of relativism, with truth being redefined daily depending on what your side needs to accomplish. The truth is out there, but no one seems to want to find it (unless, of course, it bolsters their side).
But Jesus had no problem speaking the truth. In fact, He claimed to be the truth (John 14:6). And if you are bold enough to claim to be the truth, then your perspective is pretty set. There is no need to argue useless points or haggle over details. No matter what you do or say, the truth is the truth.
And that statement usually offends people.
"You mean to tell me that if I don't know Jesus then I don't what truth is?" I'm just repeating what Jesus said about Himself, and I just happen to believe it, too. And this didn't just come from the words of Jesus. There were many men who knew Jesus personally, traveling and ministering with Him, who would later claim the same thing: Apart from Jesus, there is no truth. If you believe in or put your trust in anything or anyone else, then you've been deceived.
This past Sunday I had the chance to teach on 1 John 2:28-3:10. It's one of those passages written by John, one of Jesus' apostles and His best friend while He was here on earth, that can really offend people. John's basic point is this: Either you know God or you don't. There is no middle ground. You either know God and love His Son, Jesus, or you follow after the ways of the devil. Ouch! After the service someone told me that I was being pretty black and white about everything. I agreed with him on that. But it wasn't what I was telling him, rather I was relating the words of God as faithfully as I knew how.
Maybe there is some middle ground to be found in world conflict. Perhaps opposing sides can come together to meet in the middle to solve their differences. I hope so. Compromise between two enemies can be a beautiful thing.
Yet when it comes to God we have to understand this: He isn't looking for compromise. Because when it comes to you and God, there is no compromise. Your way is never best, no matter how good you try to present it. As the author and finisher of our faith, God has the first and the last word. Shoot, He's got the only word. Does this offend you? If it does then it's probably because you've tried for so long to do things your own way that you've convinced yourself that you can do it all on your own. But when you see the truth of God for what it is, you realize there is nothing but freedom in surrendering to God's love for you Some think it's crazy to put all of your eggs in God's basket. I say it's crazy to even think that your own basket could actually carry you anywhere.
Then there's Egypt, another big mess. There were a much bigger deal before someone in Syria began gassing fellow Syrians, but they still have many problems that no seems to know how to work out. Hundreds are dead and the government is no longer trusted, but whose to blame for all of the problems? Just where does the buck stop?
I'm glad I'm not the one making national and global political decisions because there seems to be no cut-and-dry answers out there. Diplomacy is always a good first choice, but when no one is listening it's hard to sit back and just tell others to be nice to each other. Even when the nations come together as a coalition, the truth seems so hard to come by (see: Iraq). Many so desperately want to find a middle ground, a common denominator that both sides of the conflicts can agree on, but that rarely if ever seems to happen.
When did our world become so ambiguous?
Answer: It always has been.
As long as people are involved, things are gonna be messy. All sides of the argument will claim that their points are most valid, while the rest of us are trying to figure out where the truth lies. And that's where most of these problems begin - there is no handle on truth. The world exists in its own bath of relativism, with truth being redefined daily depending on what your side needs to accomplish. The truth is out there, but no one seems to want to find it (unless, of course, it bolsters their side).
But Jesus had no problem speaking the truth. In fact, He claimed to be the truth (John 14:6). And if you are bold enough to claim to be the truth, then your perspective is pretty set. There is no need to argue useless points or haggle over details. No matter what you do or say, the truth is the truth.
And that statement usually offends people.
"You mean to tell me that if I don't know Jesus then I don't what truth is?" I'm just repeating what Jesus said about Himself, and I just happen to believe it, too. And this didn't just come from the words of Jesus. There were many men who knew Jesus personally, traveling and ministering with Him, who would later claim the same thing: Apart from Jesus, there is no truth. If you believe in or put your trust in anything or anyone else, then you've been deceived.
This past Sunday I had the chance to teach on 1 John 2:28-3:10. It's one of those passages written by John, one of Jesus' apostles and His best friend while He was here on earth, that can really offend people. John's basic point is this: Either you know God or you don't. There is no middle ground. You either know God and love His Son, Jesus, or you follow after the ways of the devil. Ouch! After the service someone told me that I was being pretty black and white about everything. I agreed with him on that. But it wasn't what I was telling him, rather I was relating the words of God as faithfully as I knew how.
Maybe there is some middle ground to be found in world conflict. Perhaps opposing sides can come together to meet in the middle to solve their differences. I hope so. Compromise between two enemies can be a beautiful thing.
Yet when it comes to God we have to understand this: He isn't looking for compromise. Because when it comes to you and God, there is no compromise. Your way is never best, no matter how good you try to present it. As the author and finisher of our faith, God has the first and the last word. Shoot, He's got the only word. Does this offend you? If it does then it's probably because you've tried for so long to do things your own way that you've convinced yourself that you can do it all on your own. But when you see the truth of God for what it is, you realize there is nothing but freedom in surrendering to God's love for you Some think it's crazy to put all of your eggs in God's basket. I say it's crazy to even think that your own basket could actually carry you anywhere.
The power of prayer is greater than the power of opinion
Unless you've been living in a remote cave somewhere in Patagonia, then you are aware that there's a whole lot of stuff going on in America. The economy is still shaky, health care remains in critical condition, the NSA is all up in our business, and no one seems to know who is actually telling the truth anymore (as if we ever really knew in the first place). Scale this down to a local level and the problems seem to be magnified. For instance, in my great state of North Carolina our state legislators' decisions to underfund an educational system that is already lagging behind have left people on both sides of the political aisle shaking their heads in astonishment. What is going on here?
If you have internet access then you have been bombarded with countless opinions as to what is happening in America, both on a national and local level. Some insights are filled with facts and figures, yet most are knee jerk reactions to whatever sleight may be perceived. I, too, have been guilty of posting my displeasure on social media, although my public sentiments hardly reflect the vitriol of most that I have read. It's okay to have opinions about politics. After all, we the people are the ones who vote to put these men and women in office and when they do not represent our wishes then our voices need to be heard, right?
Here's the problem with that. If I bash our president or state representatives or other elected officials on Facebook or Twitter, what problems am I fixing with that approach? Sure, I can call their offices and let my voice be heard (and I often do that) but what good comes from a public lambast of a man or woman who will never in a million years read what has been posted about him or her? Believe me, if I was a politician then the arena of social media is the last place I would choose to hang out. I'm no glutton for punishment!
"But we need change in this country!" you say.
"If our voices are not heard, then nothing will be done!" you lament.
"Power to the people!" a group of radicals in the corner screams.
Yes, we need change! Yes, our voices need to be heard! But by whom? Have we become so quick to share our opinions with others that we have forgotten who is truly in charge here?
Read these words from 1 Timothy 2:1-3 carefully:
This means that we believe the power of prayer is greater than the power of opinion.
This means that we choose to bow before God before we bend over our keyboards.
This means that we seek the wise counsel of God before we see how many "likes" we can get.
Why should we do this? First, it leads to godliness and dignity. There is nothing more undignified than seeing a professing Christian whose Facebook page that looks more like a hate mail forum for the president and other government leaders, especially when they mix in really great Scripture quotes between their anti-government rants. Second, praying for our leaders pleases God our Savior. This is our goal in life, to bring glory and honor to God. I'm pretty sure that a consistent stream of negative opinions about our elected officials doesn't do that.
Constantly berating public officials in the public forum gets old pretty quickly. For followers of Christ to constantly do so is just plain irresponsible and disobedient. Election times will soon come and you can cast your vote for all the change you want to see. In the meantime, spend more hours on your knees interceding for your leaders and less time online spewing irresponsible opinions.
If you have internet access then you have been bombarded with countless opinions as to what is happening in America, both on a national and local level. Some insights are filled with facts and figures, yet most are knee jerk reactions to whatever sleight may be perceived. I, too, have been guilty of posting my displeasure on social media, although my public sentiments hardly reflect the vitriol of most that I have read. It's okay to have opinions about politics. After all, we the people are the ones who vote to put these men and women in office and when they do not represent our wishes then our voices need to be heard, right?
Here's the problem with that. If I bash our president or state representatives or other elected officials on Facebook or Twitter, what problems am I fixing with that approach? Sure, I can call their offices and let my voice be heard (and I often do that) but what good comes from a public lambast of a man or woman who will never in a million years read what has been posted about him or her? Believe me, if I was a politician then the arena of social media is the last place I would choose to hang out. I'm no glutton for punishment!
"But we need change in this country!" you say.
"If our voices are not heard, then nothing will be done!" you lament.
"Power to the people!" a group of radicals in the corner screams.
Yes, we need change! Yes, our voices need to be heard! But by whom? Have we become so quick to share our opinions with others that we have forgotten who is truly in charge here?
Read these words from 1 Timothy 2:1-3 carefully:
First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior.First of all. This means that, before we air our concerns and opinions to the rest of the world about how lousy we believe our government is, we pray for our leaders. We lift them up to our sovereign God and we thank Him for giving us leaders to lead us.
This means that we believe the power of prayer is greater than the power of opinion.
This means that we choose to bow before God before we bend over our keyboards.
This means that we seek the wise counsel of God before we see how many "likes" we can get.
Why should we do this? First, it leads to godliness and dignity. There is nothing more undignified than seeing a professing Christian whose Facebook page that looks more like a hate mail forum for the president and other government leaders, especially when they mix in really great Scripture quotes between their anti-government rants. Second, praying for our leaders pleases God our Savior. This is our goal in life, to bring glory and honor to God. I'm pretty sure that a consistent stream of negative opinions about our elected officials doesn't do that.
Constantly berating public officials in the public forum gets old pretty quickly. For followers of Christ to constantly do so is just plain irresponsible and disobedient. Election times will soon come and you can cast your vote for all the change you want to see. In the meantime, spend more hours on your knees interceding for your leaders and less time online spewing irresponsible opinions.
I've got "those" friends and so do you
Not a day goes by that I don't check up on what's happening on Facebook or Twitter. That doesn't mean that I post something all the time because I don't, but I do try to share at least one inspiring or funny thought or picture a day. That being said, there is rarely a time that I log off of my social media pages when I am not shaking my head at some of the crazy stuff I read online.
I have well over a thousand Facebook "friends" but in real life I hardly have that many. Nevertheless, I enjoy keeping up with long-time acquaintances and people I have become familiar with through mutual friends. While it's doubtful that even a fraction of these people will ever become an integral part of my daily life, I find that it can be beneficial and good to join them in their daily life via social media.
Most of the time.
I just can't stomach all of the rants, posts filled with disinformation, and outright keyboard hostility that I witness on a daily basis. The saying "The kitchen table is no place for talk of religion and politics" still rings true, it's just that the conversation has just moved to the internet and it is a free for all.
Now I'm certainly not against discussing personal beliefs on any level - it is what I do for a "living." But with the advent of social media, everyone is issued their own superhero power that they can use to be as obnoxious and inflammatory as they want without the fear of physical reprisal. In other words, we've become pretty tough behind our computer keyboards.
Just today I've been accosted with posts warning me about what I should and shouldn't believe, what is acceptable politically/socially/environmentally, and if I dare to disagree, how narrow-minded and deficient I am. All this without even posting anything to draw such ire. People have opinions - I get that - but social media (especially Facebook) have made them downright caustic.
Before I start fussing at the guilty I have to admit that I have been in that camp before and there's no guarantee that I won't slip again in the future. I've had to delete posts and blog entries before, and I am not proud of how I have handled some of my opinions in the past. As a result, I have set some parameters that I try to follow pretty strictly and I want to share them with all of you who regularly venture into the world of social media.
First, I know you have an opinion and you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the world needs to know your opinion.
Second, there is nothing manly or gracious about picking fights in a social media forum. If you aren't man or woman enough to sit across from someone and have the same exchange, then keep it off the internet. If something you have said is misinterpreted - and this does happen from time to time - take it to a private forum where you can discuss it with the offended party away from the maddening crowd (i.e., email, private messages, perhaps even a phone call or a conversation over coffee).
Third, please, please, please get your facts straight before you start bashing some political candidate or expressing your world view. Nothing is more frustrating than watching somebody melt down over faulty information.
The next few are specifically for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Fourth, by all means express your faith and defend it against falsehoods, but do so in a way that would honor Jesus. If you want to know how Jesus did that, read the New Testament. Yes, He could be downright pithy with the religious elite of His day but notice that He kept it contained in that context. He wasn't all about bashing those who did not know Him or follow his teachings - to them He extended grace. It was religious people that He called out and He did so in the proper forum. You aren't Jesus and I'm almost positive that He didn't use Facebook, so don't use social media as an excuse to engage people for your own religious agenda.
Fifth, ask yourself before you post something, "What is my goal here? What do I hope to accomplish with my words?" If your answer is not something like "I want to see peoples' lives changed for the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ," then perhaps your true motive is to prove how right you are or to make sure others realize just how wrong they are. If that's the case, then I can confidently categorize you as "one of those guys" and will happily unfriend you or block you altogether, and so will most of your "friends" eventually.
Finally, stand on truth and do not waver. The teachings of Jesus are pretty clear: Nowhere do we read that it's okay to condone sin. Nowhere do we read that it's okay to shirk our Christian responsibilities to care for "the least of these." If you are going to bash someone for holding to a belief that you believe is unbiblical, then you better check yourself first. Are you quick to throw stones at someone's theology while at the same time you are are not willing to dispense grace to those who need Jesus? There's a word for that - hypocrisy - and to be blunt, it sucks.
I realize that these points will not be popular with many, especially those who believe that they have every right to wield and swing the sword of the Lord at those who need to be smacked with it. But ask yourself this: Is picking a fight while hiding behind a keyboard with those who don't believe as you do the best way to show them that they ought to believe as you do? Instead of hiding behind a keyboard, bask in the shadow of the cross and build relationships with those who need to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
I have well over a thousand Facebook "friends" but in real life I hardly have that many. Nevertheless, I enjoy keeping up with long-time acquaintances and people I have become familiar with through mutual friends. While it's doubtful that even a fraction of these people will ever become an integral part of my daily life, I find that it can be beneficial and good to join them in their daily life via social media.
Most of the time.
I just can't stomach all of the rants, posts filled with disinformation, and outright keyboard hostility that I witness on a daily basis. The saying "The kitchen table is no place for talk of religion and politics" still rings true, it's just that the conversation has just moved to the internet and it is a free for all.
Now I'm certainly not against discussing personal beliefs on any level - it is what I do for a "living." But with the advent of social media, everyone is issued their own superhero power that they can use to be as obnoxious and inflammatory as they want without the fear of physical reprisal. In other words, we've become pretty tough behind our computer keyboards.
Just today I've been accosted with posts warning me about what I should and shouldn't believe, what is acceptable politically/socially/environmentally, and if I dare to disagree, how narrow-minded and deficient I am. All this without even posting anything to draw such ire. People have opinions - I get that - but social media (especially Facebook) have made them downright caustic.
Before I start fussing at the guilty I have to admit that I have been in that camp before and there's no guarantee that I won't slip again in the future. I've had to delete posts and blog entries before, and I am not proud of how I have handled some of my opinions in the past. As a result, I have set some parameters that I try to follow pretty strictly and I want to share them with all of you who regularly venture into the world of social media.
First, I know you have an opinion and you are absolutely entitled to that opinion, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the world needs to know your opinion.
Second, there is nothing manly or gracious about picking fights in a social media forum. If you aren't man or woman enough to sit across from someone and have the same exchange, then keep it off the internet. If something you have said is misinterpreted - and this does happen from time to time - take it to a private forum where you can discuss it with the offended party away from the maddening crowd (i.e., email, private messages, perhaps even a phone call or a conversation over coffee).
Third, please, please, please get your facts straight before you start bashing some political candidate or expressing your world view. Nothing is more frustrating than watching somebody melt down over faulty information.
The next few are specifically for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Fourth, by all means express your faith and defend it against falsehoods, but do so in a way that would honor Jesus. If you want to know how Jesus did that, read the New Testament. Yes, He could be downright pithy with the religious elite of His day but notice that He kept it contained in that context. He wasn't all about bashing those who did not know Him or follow his teachings - to them He extended grace. It was religious people that He called out and He did so in the proper forum. You aren't Jesus and I'm almost positive that He didn't use Facebook, so don't use social media as an excuse to engage people for your own religious agenda.
Fifth, ask yourself before you post something, "What is my goal here? What do I hope to accomplish with my words?" If your answer is not something like "I want to see peoples' lives changed for the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ," then perhaps your true motive is to prove how right you are or to make sure others realize just how wrong they are. If that's the case, then I can confidently categorize you as "one of those guys" and will happily unfriend you or block you altogether, and so will most of your "friends" eventually.
Finally, stand on truth and do not waver. The teachings of Jesus are pretty clear: Nowhere do we read that it's okay to condone sin. Nowhere do we read that it's okay to shirk our Christian responsibilities to care for "the least of these." If you are going to bash someone for holding to a belief that you believe is unbiblical, then you better check yourself first. Are you quick to throw stones at someone's theology while at the same time you are are not willing to dispense grace to those who need Jesus? There's a word for that - hypocrisy - and to be blunt, it sucks.
I realize that these points will not be popular with many, especially those who believe that they have every right to wield and swing the sword of the Lord at those who need to be smacked with it. But ask yourself this: Is picking a fight while hiding behind a keyboard with those who don't believe as you do the best way to show them that they ought to believe as you do? Instead of hiding behind a keyboard, bask in the shadow of the cross and build relationships with those who need to know the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
A few post-election, non-partisan musings (this is not a rant!)
Well it's Wednesday and we're all still alive. Whether or not your guy or girl won last night in whatever race you had your eyes on, life goes on. And for those who have threatened to move to Canada or some tropical island every four years, start packing.
But on a more serious note, now that we know who our president, senators, congressmen and women, governors, etc., will be for the next few years, it's time for me to reflect forward on a few things that have recently come to pass in this election and a few things I'd like to see happen.
Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana use. I'm not really sure how this is going to work out but you can probably bet that if this does turn out to benefit those who just want the right to toke, then the populations in these states could likely boom off the charts. Talk about tax revenue! One observation I have is this: I guess it's okay to ban cigarette smoking but totally acceptable to embrace pot smoking. Seems hypocritical to me. It appears one man's second hand smoke is another man's pleasure.
The Electoral College. I had a booger of a time explaining to my two oldest children last night why the electoral college was in place. They asked me the obvious question: "Why doesn't the candidate who receives the most votes win?" I ask myself that same question every four years. Normally it's a moot point - the guy with the most popular votes typically wins the most electoral college votes as well - but this was not so in 2000 when Bush defeated Gore and it also happened this way three times in the 1800's. If I was a candidate who gained the most popular vote but still lost an election because of the electoral college, I would be pretty sore about it. Not only that, but if you live in the western part of the United States, Alaska, or Hawaii, by the time you stand in line to vote at the end of the work day what's the use? The media has usually declared a winner so it really does seem that your vote doesn't count. If we really want every vote to count then let's get rid of the electoral college and let the people truly decide.
A legitimate third party. When I turned 18 in 1988 and registered to vote, I did so as a Republican because they espoused my conservative views (Reagan was in office...I miss that guy). Fast forward 24 years and I am now a registered Independent who has no clue who truly represents me, and I have a feeling most Americans resonate with my perspective. I know that no one can expect the Democrat or Republican parties to fully espouse his or her political beliefs en totem, but it almost seems like neither party is really trying anymore. That's why I think we need a legitimate third party to come on the scene so stir things up and to represent what I believe most of the people want. I've heard it said that if most Americans were to write down your political views on paper, then most of us would discover that we were Libertarians. I don't know if this is true or not, but I do believe most of us would discover we weren't member of of the party for which we were registered. In this arena it is indeed time for a change.
Our tax system is ridiculous. I really can't explain the specifics of what is so ridiculous about the tax system in America because, like most Americans, it is so ridiculously complex and confusing that I simply have to blanket label all of it as ridiculous. Depending on who you listen to and believe, either the rich pay more or less, the middle class pay less or more, and the poor pay nothing or actually receive a check for doing nothing. I believe it's time to overall the whole system and institute something simple and better: The Fair Tax. Basically the Fair Tax is an embedded tax on all the goods that are purchased, from cars to bread to clothing. Yes, these items will cost a little more with this embedded tax but the beauty of this system is that it does away with the income tax. That's right, no more income tax taken out of your paycheck and that means no more need for the IRS! Instead, whenever you buy something - and everybody buys stuff - you are paying your taxes. The more you buy, the more taxes you pay. So ideally the rich who will buy more will pay more taxes and the poor who buy less will pay less taxes. Plus, this effects everyone. If you are in America as an illegal immigrant or just on vacation, we thank you for paying taxes into our system. I've had many tell me this is idiotic and wouldn't work, but I think they were concerned more about the jobs that would be lost in the IRS (this would not affect CPA's who still would work with businesses; when polled, most say they like the idea). There is also the idea of a Flat Tax but I like the Fair Tax better. I can dream.
Health Care needs help. And by that I mean it needs to be reformed and badly, but not in the way that I have heard any of the candidates discussing. First, let me say we need Tort Reform. In a nutshell, Tort Reform limits that amount of money that health care providers can be sued by offended patients. Granted I'm sure that there are plenty of cases of negligence out there but I don't see how suing a doctor for $250 million for a botched hangnail procedure is gonna solve anything. These outrageous lawsuits make the insurance premiums for health care providers go through the roof and this trickles down to the cost that you and I have to pay for our care (For example, most obstetrical doctors pay over $100,000 in insurance premiums in a year. That's ludicrous!). Moving on, in 1996 I had open heart surgery to fix a birth defect, and since then I have been given a clean bill of health. No daily medicine, no restrictions on activity, just a visit to the cardiologist every couple of years to make sure everything is hunky dory. However, I speak from first hand experience that were I not on my wife's medical plan through her job, I would not be able to afford health insurance because of my history. You may say that's why we need a government plan that allows for pre-existing conditions, but I have yet to witness the government run a large system and do it well (see Medicare, Social Security, etc.). What we need is personal accountability and responsibility. Simply put, if your lifestyle has made you a health risk, then you should be expected to pay more in premiums (i.e., if you smoke, have a history of substance abuse, are morbidly obese, etc.). I realize that this would be hard to police but we'll never know how hard until we try. And insurance companies are not completely innocent, but allowing them to adjust premiums for the healthy and "risky" would make plans more affordable. As for the health insurance companies, it's time to pull lobbyists from their backsides and limit their exposure and influence, which is one of many reasons health care costs are going up. And before you get so angry at health care professionals for being so dang expensive, first ask yourself why government reimbursements keep declining (i.e., payments to providers for services rendered via Medicare and Medicaid). You want free health care? Many are already getting it and you are paying for it. Will this solve the health care crisis in full? No, but it's a good start that needs to be taken.
Term limits. The president cannot seek a third consecutive term, so why should all other candidates be able to do so? Honestly, my main issue here is with the US Senate and Congress. There are men and women in these offices who have been sitting in the same seats since before the advent of cable television. Are they capable of effectively leading for 20, 30, 40 years? Some are, many aren't. Since senators serve six years, I say give them two terms and then they have to sit out an election cycle before they can seek office again if they choose. Also, since the members of Congress serve only 2 years, then give them 4 consecutive terms (eight years) and require them to sit out a cycle as well. That way, fresh ideas from new candidates are brought to the table every few elections and it loosens the grip that lobbyists (which I can't stand) and little political cliques will have in the chambers.
Finally, it's time to get your yard signs up and out of here. I honestly don't know of anyone who loves all of the political advertising that goes on around election time. Candidates need to be heard and in a way commercials and signage are a necessary evil, but by the time voting rolls around most of the people I know just want to vomit - they've seen and heard enough. That being said, I suggest a law that gives candidates a certain number of days (anywhere up to a week) to rid their communities of all their signage or pay the consequences. Yes, some haters could plant yard signs in an effort to heap up fines on their nemesis, but why not open this sign removal idea to all citizens? If you see a sign a few days after the election, then it's fair game to trash it. I would gladly yield to your vehicle as you uproot dozens of signs and head for the trash dump.
I am Sterling Griggs and I approve this message.
But on a more serious note, now that we know who our president, senators, congressmen and women, governors, etc., will be for the next few years, it's time for me to reflect forward on a few things that have recently come to pass in this election and a few things I'd like to see happen.
Colorado and Washington legalized recreational marijuana use. I'm not really sure how this is going to work out but you can probably bet that if this does turn out to benefit those who just want the right to toke, then the populations in these states could likely boom off the charts. Talk about tax revenue! One observation I have is this: I guess it's okay to ban cigarette smoking but totally acceptable to embrace pot smoking. Seems hypocritical to me. It appears one man's second hand smoke is another man's pleasure.
The Electoral College. I had a booger of a time explaining to my two oldest children last night why the electoral college was in place. They asked me the obvious question: "Why doesn't the candidate who receives the most votes win?" I ask myself that same question every four years. Normally it's a moot point - the guy with the most popular votes typically wins the most electoral college votes as well - but this was not so in 2000 when Bush defeated Gore and it also happened this way three times in the 1800's. If I was a candidate who gained the most popular vote but still lost an election because of the electoral college, I would be pretty sore about it. Not only that, but if you live in the western part of the United States, Alaska, or Hawaii, by the time you stand in line to vote at the end of the work day what's the use? The media has usually declared a winner so it really does seem that your vote doesn't count. If we really want every vote to count then let's get rid of the electoral college and let the people truly decide.
A legitimate third party. When I turned 18 in 1988 and registered to vote, I did so as a Republican because they espoused my conservative views (Reagan was in office...I miss that guy). Fast forward 24 years and I am now a registered Independent who has no clue who truly represents me, and I have a feeling most Americans resonate with my perspective. I know that no one can expect the Democrat or Republican parties to fully espouse his or her political beliefs en totem, but it almost seems like neither party is really trying anymore. That's why I think we need a legitimate third party to come on the scene so stir things up and to represent what I believe most of the people want. I've heard it said that if most Americans were to write down your political views on paper, then most of us would discover that we were Libertarians. I don't know if this is true or not, but I do believe most of us would discover we weren't member of of the party for which we were registered. In this arena it is indeed time for a change.
Our tax system is ridiculous. I really can't explain the specifics of what is so ridiculous about the tax system in America because, like most Americans, it is so ridiculously complex and confusing that I simply have to blanket label all of it as ridiculous. Depending on who you listen to and believe, either the rich pay more or less, the middle class pay less or more, and the poor pay nothing or actually receive a check for doing nothing. I believe it's time to overall the whole system and institute something simple and better: The Fair Tax. Basically the Fair Tax is an embedded tax on all the goods that are purchased, from cars to bread to clothing. Yes, these items will cost a little more with this embedded tax but the beauty of this system is that it does away with the income tax. That's right, no more income tax taken out of your paycheck and that means no more need for the IRS! Instead, whenever you buy something - and everybody buys stuff - you are paying your taxes. The more you buy, the more taxes you pay. So ideally the rich who will buy more will pay more taxes and the poor who buy less will pay less taxes. Plus, this effects everyone. If you are in America as an illegal immigrant or just on vacation, we thank you for paying taxes into our system. I've had many tell me this is idiotic and wouldn't work, but I think they were concerned more about the jobs that would be lost in the IRS (this would not affect CPA's who still would work with businesses; when polled, most say they like the idea). There is also the idea of a Flat Tax but I like the Fair Tax better. I can dream.
Health Care needs help. And by that I mean it needs to be reformed and badly, but not in the way that I have heard any of the candidates discussing. First, let me say we need Tort Reform. In a nutshell, Tort Reform limits that amount of money that health care providers can be sued by offended patients. Granted I'm sure that there are plenty of cases of negligence out there but I don't see how suing a doctor for $250 million for a botched hangnail procedure is gonna solve anything. These outrageous lawsuits make the insurance premiums for health care providers go through the roof and this trickles down to the cost that you and I have to pay for our care (For example, most obstetrical doctors pay over $100,000 in insurance premiums in a year. That's ludicrous!). Moving on, in 1996 I had open heart surgery to fix a birth defect, and since then I have been given a clean bill of health. No daily medicine, no restrictions on activity, just a visit to the cardiologist every couple of years to make sure everything is hunky dory. However, I speak from first hand experience that were I not on my wife's medical plan through her job, I would not be able to afford health insurance because of my history. You may say that's why we need a government plan that allows for pre-existing conditions, but I have yet to witness the government run a large system and do it well (see Medicare, Social Security, etc.). What we need is personal accountability and responsibility. Simply put, if your lifestyle has made you a health risk, then you should be expected to pay more in premiums (i.e., if you smoke, have a history of substance abuse, are morbidly obese, etc.). I realize that this would be hard to police but we'll never know how hard until we try. And insurance companies are not completely innocent, but allowing them to adjust premiums for the healthy and "risky" would make plans more affordable. As for the health insurance companies, it's time to pull lobbyists from their backsides and limit their exposure and influence, which is one of many reasons health care costs are going up. And before you get so angry at health care professionals for being so dang expensive, first ask yourself why government reimbursements keep declining (i.e., payments to providers for services rendered via Medicare and Medicaid). You want free health care? Many are already getting it and you are paying for it. Will this solve the health care crisis in full? No, but it's a good start that needs to be taken.
Term limits. The president cannot seek a third consecutive term, so why should all other candidates be able to do so? Honestly, my main issue here is with the US Senate and Congress. There are men and women in these offices who have been sitting in the same seats since before the advent of cable television. Are they capable of effectively leading for 20, 30, 40 years? Some are, many aren't. Since senators serve six years, I say give them two terms and then they have to sit out an election cycle before they can seek office again if they choose. Also, since the members of Congress serve only 2 years, then give them 4 consecutive terms (eight years) and require them to sit out a cycle as well. That way, fresh ideas from new candidates are brought to the table every few elections and it loosens the grip that lobbyists (which I can't stand) and little political cliques will have in the chambers.
Finally, it's time to get your yard signs up and out of here. I honestly don't know of anyone who loves all of the political advertising that goes on around election time. Candidates need to be heard and in a way commercials and signage are a necessary evil, but by the time voting rolls around most of the people I know just want to vomit - they've seen and heard enough. That being said, I suggest a law that gives candidates a certain number of days (anywhere up to a week) to rid their communities of all their signage or pay the consequences. Yes, some haters could plant yard signs in an effort to heap up fines on their nemesis, but why not open this sign removal idea to all citizens? If you see a sign a few days after the election, then it's fair game to trash it. I would gladly yield to your vehicle as you uproot dozens of signs and head for the trash dump.
I am Sterling Griggs and I approve this message.
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